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Quick Take: 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4×4

A sumptuous suburban utility vehicle

Striking a good balance between off-road ability and on-road comfort is not easy. The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4×4 appears to have done just that. While I didn’t get a chance to take the ute off-road, it excelled at cruising the concrete—which is what the vast majority of these well-equipped SUVs will spend their time doing.

The Grand Cherokee offers the driver a commanding vantage point above the surrounding traffic. Despite the height, the standard Quadra-Lift air suspension keeps body roll in check and lends itself to tidy and comfortable ride.

Power comes from a 3.6-liter V-6 making 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Under full throttle, the Grand Cherokee accelerates up to speed with ease and the 8-speed transmission provides decent and predictable shifts. The package is great for cushy freeway cruising but maintains enough nimbleness to navigate dense traffic.

Being the range-topping version unless you count the SRT and Trackhawk, the Grand Cherokee Summit also comes standard with a battery of safety tech. Parking assist sensors err on the sensitive side but the backup camera is clear. The lane departure system also kicks in a little more often than desirable leading to corrections that interrupt the car’s natural motion on the freeway. Forward collision warning is calibrated well and I never experienced any unwarranted alerts.

The Uconnect system’s 8.4-inch touchscreen is responsive and offers Android Auto and AppleCar. The layout is comprehensive and the screen is of high-enough resolution and always legible. The 7-inch instrument cluster display integrates well with the center screen and can be easily customized to show the driver necessary information.

2017 Grand Cherokees start at $53,495 and as tested, ours was optioned up to $60,580 including destination charge. It’s a worthy entry in its segment and offers a combination of luxury and utility that solidifies its fitness as a daily driver.